Overgeared

Lauel didn’t want a situation that was out of control. It was due to the principle that he had to coordinate every situation himself.

“The power of certain factions shouldn’t be too strong.”

Lauel started to be wary of the Muto Merchant Group.

The Muto Merchant Group—this force virtually monopolized commerce in the Overgeared Empire, and it was huge. It was even called the kingdom of King Muto. In fact, the status of the land they owned was enough to make a self-sufficient kingdom. The scale of the city owned by Kir, the first player to be a Merchant King, couldn’t even be compared to it.

“The Muto Merchant Group is our biggest ally and has adhered to the one-tenth policy. Do we have to keep it in check...?’

One-tenth—this was referring to the profits gained by the Muto Merchant Group when interacting with the then Overgeared Kingdom. Considering various circumstances, it was like abandoning greed altogether. It was at the level of mentioning unfair contracts, slave contracts, volunteering, etc.

Furthermore, Muto was a member of Overgeared Two. In the name of being a guild member, he had provided the personnel and information of the merchant group free of charge to the then Overgeared Kingdom. Nevertheless, it experienced huge growth due to the fact that it won the commercial power of the then Overgeared Kingdom.

Huroi was unconvinced by Lauel’s decision to recruit another merchant group to keep the Muto Merchant Group in check.

Lauel explained it, “I don’t doubt or dislike Muto. I am just concerned about a situation where Muto can’t control his forces. Don’t you know that there are presently more than 30 operators at the top of Muto Merchant Guild?”

“I heard that Muto selected pro-Grid personnel...”

“Politics have to proceed separately from individual emotions. In particular, merchants are more prone to corruption because their ultimate goal is to make a profit. Consider this. They dare to aim at Grid once they are able to exert sufficient influence in Grid’s empire.”

“......”

Huroi’s face gradually turned red. The docile and meek eyes that were reminiscent of a puppy soared upward in a terrifying manner. For Huroi, the first subordinate of Grid, Grid was his only monarch and god. He felt anger just thinking that someone might swing at Grid.

“The inner stability of the Lion Merchant Group which you understood with your demonic talent... it is very solid compared to its size. There is a constant influx of external capital like a spring that doesn’t dry out. It is hard to see it as solely relying on the forces behind it. I am wondering if perhaps the merchant group members aren’t able to identify internal spies because they are focusing on foreign investment to attract investors.”

The internal spy naturally referred to Huroi.

It was a few months ago. After disguising himself as a third person and infiltrating the Lion Merchant Group, Huroi was still pressing forward. He gained countless pieces of information but wasn’t discovered as a spy. He was even promoted to an interim executive.

Lauel interpreted it as a type of luck. The management team was out of position due to the nature of the Lion Merchant Group, which was obsessed with external capital. It was easy for Huroi to be active because it was open to new people. Of course, it was possible because Huroi’s camouflage and acting skills supported it.

He was truly an orator. It was his job to live and eat with his mouth.

“The Lion Merchant Group has invested heavily in every business it enters for the first time. If they get a chance to contract with us, they are likely to invest all the capital at the top. This will cover a significant amount of the construction costs of the hell elevator. Of course, you need to convince them Huroi.”

“You don’t have to worry about that part. The top leaders trust me unconditionally.”

“As expected of Huroi... you are great like Grid’s first confidant.”

“This is the basics.”

Start by making the Lion Merchant Group join the construction of the hell elevator, and then grow it into a counter for the Muto Merchant Group. Throw a competitor to instill alarm in the leaders of the Muto Merchant Group and seal it off from crossing the line.

The Overgeared Empire would gain a number of advantages from the overheated competition that the two merchant groups would create. There was no room for the two merchant groups to collude as one. Just like Huroi in the Lion Merchant Group, the leadership of the Muto Merchant Group had been planted with many moles over the years. They were able to induce infinite competition rather than collusion.

The justification was sufficient. It was physically impossible for one merchant group to handle the kingdom that had turned into an empire. The leaders of the Muto Group had no choice but to take this incident as a matter of course. They wouldn’t dare to even feel disappointed.

‘At the same time, it will be easier to access the background of the Lion Merchant Group. It should be considered killing two birds with one stone.’

***

at the Lion

to open up trade with

the Muto Merchant Group monopolized the commercial rights of the Overgeared Empire? How is this

of the top leader and vice-president who have always trusted me and entrusted me with this job. Trying to live up to your trust

think it is our

“Hahaha!”

“Huhuhu!”

and the

who was the host, was troubled. His heart was rotting unlike his

don’t want to get too involved

knew why the Overgeared Guild’s Huroi was planted as a

branch organizations of Inferno—the Overgeared Guild identified them and approached the Lion Merchant Group. The ultimate goal was to reveal the identity of Inferno. All information related to Inferno was destroyed and the only real person in contact

Overgeared Guild got close. Of course, stepping on the tail was unlikely to do any harm to Inferno.

Lion Merchant Group. What

with the merchant group, but this

was overwhelmed with nervousness. However, he couldn’t express it and just

***

was after repairing God’s

really indebted to

politely said goodbye to the World Tree. It wasn’t just the elves. The elementals also

Come to the elemental world

[Yes, Fire Stone.]

guy keeps

better than not having a name? I

it. I listen to

Pure Wind... I don’t particularly like it, but... I’m happy about Nothing Stone’s heart

[I’m going crazy...]

King of Fire. The elemental kings released from the oppression of the Elemental King

process of summoning the elemental kings weighed on Grid’s mind, but... it was a problem that

the World Tree. As long as the elves allowed people to come and go from the forest, many people would come to the forest in the future to pray to the World Tree, promoting its

Tree is

World Tree purified the air and mana of the surface just by existing. There was a

feel free to come at any

I need

hope you come to see

long journey

***

“Ohh, this...”

you to really do

stopped by the

handed the perfectly repaired God’s Circle. The giant’s divine object had regained its former glory. They were so

are the benefactor

“Don’t do this.”

hurriedly raised Fronzaltz

the world for so long. I am always grateful to you.

help came from the World Tree who took the risk. It is

time, but Filewolf was a really clever guy. He naturally shifted all the merit to the World Tree. It was to encourage the World Tree to recover more comfortably. He knew Grid’s

makes me have no choice but to like

his body. Nevertheless, the rejection became lighter and he was